Anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers, which is installed in one face of a container, and which comprises a sealing board and a pressure relief module. The sealing board is installed in the abovementioned face of the container and having at least one through-hole where the pressure relief module passes through the sealing board. The pressure relief module includes a top cover having at least one exhaust hole and a fastening member passing through the sealing board; an engagement member installed inside the top cover and having a pressure relief valve thereinside. The pressure relief device applies to various compound containers and can timely release the vaporized gas accumulated inside the container. Thereby, the present invention can effectively prevent compound containers from explosion and obviously improve the safety of compound containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an anti-shock and vibration pressure relief device, particularly to a pressure relief device that can prevent compound containers from explosion caused by that the internal pressure exceeds the set range. The present invention can further prevent the compound containers from unpredictable break caused by shock or vibration on the containers before the internal pressure is up to the designed pressure range.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various compounds, such as gasoline and electrolyte of lithium iron batteries, are placed around our living environment and likely to experience collisions and dramatic temperature variation. Collision may cause the internal compound to sway violently. Besides, compounds are likely to deteriorate after long term storage. Deterioration, abrupt temperature rise, or violent sway may cause compounds to vaporize, which may further cause very high pressure or even explosion. Therefore, the designers of compound containers must take much care in safety problems.

Refer to FIG. 1 for a conventional pressure relief device. The conventional pressure relief device comprises a pressure relief member 30 installed on a sealing board 36. The pressure relief member 30 has a pressure relief valve 32. The pressure relief valve 32 has an annular trench 34. The pressure the annular trench 34 can withstand is smaller than that the surrounding material can do. Once the pressure of the container exceeds a specified value, the annular trench 34 will break firstly. Thus is detached the pressure relief valve 32 and released the pressure. However, the conventional pressure relief member 30 lacks an anti-vibration function. The compound container is likely to vibrate in transportation, which may cause the pressure relief valve 32 to break and drop.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes a anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers to overcome the abovementioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers, which can prevent compound containers from cracks or explosion caused by too high internal pressure, whereby is enhanced the safety of the compound containers.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers, which can prevent the pressure relief valve from being loosened or cracked by vibration generated in transportation of compound containers.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers, which is simple-structured and easy to assemble, and which can be fabricated in low cost and high efficiency.

To achieve the abovementioned objectives, the present invention proposes a anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers, which is installed one face of a container. The abovementioned face of the container has a sealing board. The sealing board has at least one through-hole where a pressure relief module is arranged. The pressure relief module comprises a top cover. The top cover has at least one exhaust hole and a fastening member penetrating the sealing board. The pressure relief module also comprises an engagement member installed inside the top cover, and a pressure relief valve is arranged inside the engagement member.

Below, the embodiments are described in detail in cooperation with drawings to make easily understood the structural characteristics and efficacies of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a conventional pressure relief device;

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of a battery cover of a lithium iron battery according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view schematically shows the structure of a battery cover of a lithium iron battery according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing a anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing that the pressure of vaporized gas acts on a pressure relief module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can universally apply to various compound containers, such as a lithium-iron battery shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pressure relief device of the present invention functions as a battery cover of a lithium-iron battery 10. The lithium-iron battery 10 has a battery core (not shown in the drawings), a positive electrode 12, a negative electrode 14, and a container 16, wherein the positive and negative electrodes 12 and 14 extend from the battery core. The container 16 is made of a rigid metallic material lest the lithium-iron battery 10 be damaged by collision. The container 16 has a sealing board 18 on one face thereof. The sealing board 18 is also made of a rigid metallic material and joined with the container 16 via a laser welding technology or an ultrasonic welding technology.

Refer to FIGS. 2-4. The sealing board 18 is arranged on one face of the container 16 and shaped to match the container 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the container 16 is a cuboid, and the sealing board 18 is a rectangle. The sealing board 18 has at least one through-hole 182 where a pressure relief module 20 passes through the sealing board 18. The pressure relief module 20 comprises a top cover 202. The top cover 202 has at least one exhaust hole 2022 and a fastening member 2024 penetrating the sealing board 18. The pressure relief module 20 also comprises an engagement member 204 secured inside the top cover 202. The engagement member 204 has a channel thereinside. The channel accommodates a pressure relief valve 206. The pressure relief valve 206 is made of a metallic material and has an annular trench 2062 on the surface thereof. The annular trench 2062 is fabricated to have a circular shape, a C-like shape, a polygonal shape or an irregular shape. The engagement member 204 is made of rubber and able to buffer the vibrations of the pressure relief valve 206 in transportation of compound containers. The pressure relief module 20 also comprises an annular locking member 208 installed in the fastening member 2024 of the top cover 202 to secure the pressure relief module 20 onto the sealing board 18. In another embodiment, the pressure relief module 20 is directly welded to the sealing board 18 without using the annular locking member 208.

Refer to FIG. 5. The material under or above the annular trench 2062 is thinner than the material of the other regions of the pressure relief valve 206. The internal pressure of the container 16 acts on the pressure relief valve 206 anytime. Once the internal pressure of the container 16 grows too high, the material under or above the annular trench 2062 breaks firstly. Thus, the gas rushes out of the pressure relief valve 206 and flows through the channel of the engagement member 204 to the exhaust hole 2022 of the top cover 202. Then, the gas is exhausted from the exhaust hole 2022. Therefore, the present invention can prevent the container from explosion caused by too high a pressure inside the container. As the engagement member 204 is made of rubber, it can absorb the vibration generated in transportation of compound containers. Therefore, neither the pressure relief valve 206 loosens, nor the annular trench 2062 breaks, in transportation of compound containers. Thus, the vaporized gas would not leak from the pressure relief valve 206.

In conclusion, the pressure relief device of the present invention applies to various compound containers. The pressure relief device can prevent compound containers from explosion caused by vaporized gas. Further, the present invention can prevent the pressure relief valve from being loosened by vibration in transportation. Therefore, the present invention can guarantee the safety of compound containers. Besides, the present invention has advantages of simple structure, easy assembly and low cost.

The embodiments described above are only to exemplify the present invention but not to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modification or variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers, which is installed in one face of a container, and which comprises a sealing board installed in said face of said container and having at least one through-hole; a pressure relief module installed in said through-hole and including a top cover having at least one exhaust hole and a fastening member passing through said sealing board; and an engagement member installed inside said top cover and having a pressure relief valve thereinside.
 2. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 1 further comprising an annular locking member installed inside said fastening member of said top cover and securing said pressure relief module to said sealing board.
 3. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 1, wherein said engagement member is made of rubber.
 4. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 1, wherein said top cover is made of a metallic material.
 5. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 1, wherein said engagement member has a channel there inside , and wherein gas flows to said exhaust hole of said top cover via said channel.
 6. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 1, wherein each of said pressure relief valve and said sealing board is made of a metallic material.
 7. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 1, wherein said pressure relief valve has an annular trench on a surface thereof.
 8. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 7, wherein said annular trench is fabricated to have a circular shape, a C-like shape, a polygonal shape or an irregular shape.
 9. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 1, wherein said sealing board is joined with said container with a laser welding technology or an ultrasonic welding technology.
 10. The anti-vibration and shock pressure relief device for compound containers according to claim 1, wherein said pressure relief module is joined with said sealing board with a welding technology. 